We must look beyond India’s exciting headline GDP numbers
Live MintThe Indian economy’s stellar performance in the second quarter of fiscal 2023-24 put all previous GDP estimates, including the Reserve Bank of India’s own estimate of 6.5%, in the shade. Geopolitical factors, the strength of the US economy and hence the US Federal Reserve’s continued fight against inflation, and the ongoing global slowdown are sure to lower growth in the second half of the year. But with 7.7% real GDP growth in the first half, overall growth for the full year could end up a tad higher than earlier estimates of 6.5%, making India one of the fastest growing major economies in the world. Not just in the near-term, but over the decades ahead, as it will play a key role in whether we can sustain a fast GDP clip beyond our current ‘middle-income’ level.